Dr. Chi-Ah Chun

Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology

PSY 325
California State University Long Beach
(562) 985-7608 vc      (562) 985-8004 fax 
cchun@csulb.edu

Office Hours:
Monday          4:30-5:30pm
Wednesday    1:00-2:00pm


Courses Education Research Projects Publications Other Interests

Courses I Teach:

PSY 100 General Psychology, Honors Section 
This course introduces major topics in psychology including historical development of psychology, biological roots of behavior, learning, memory, emotion, perception and sensation, development, social psychology and diversity, stress and health, personality, psychological disorders and treatment approaches. Emphasis will be placed on gaining an understanding of the major concepts in these topic areas, an appreciation of basic research approaches used in psychology, and the development of critical thinking skills in the application of psychological principles. 

PSY 200 Research Methods 
This course is designed to provide an introductory overview of the conceptual, practical, and strategic aspects of conducting research in psychology. Emphasis will be placed on research methods that allow the most rigorous tests of specific hypotheses and the most confident conclusions about observed patterns of data. The strengths and weaknesses of these methods will be discussed, and you will be encouraged to think critically about the conclusions of psychological research and the methods used to reach them. 

PSY 368/ASAM 490 Asian American Personality & Mental Health 
This course is intended to provide a survey of psychological issues facing Asian Americans, including the historical, sociopolitical, and cultural influences that shape personality and mental health of individuals in this diverse population group. There are three main goals for students: 1) to learn key concepts in Asian American personality and mental health, 2) to analyze psychological issues pertinent to Asian Americans, and 3) to examine and reflect upon the personal relevance of the issues discussed in the course. 


Education & Background:


Research Interests:


Projects:

Cambodian Trauma Survivors 

I am involved with a large scale psychiatric epidemiological study on Cambodian refugees living in Long Beach. The study examines the prevalence rates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and their psychosocial correlates. My particular interest lies in how the refugees cope with living with PTSD and how their family members cope with living with a person suffering from PTSD. Currently, my research team at CSULB is developing a qualitative study to investigate this particular question. 

Values, Identity, & Psychological Distress (VIP) Study 

The main objective of the VIP study is to examine the relationships among several cultural variables such as acculturation, ethnic identity, and individualism and collectivism. Acculturation and ethnic identity have been often used as proxy variables of cultural values, and this study aims to test that assumption. Another objective of the study is to find out whether these cultural variables are associated with psychological distress in a systematic way. Currently, we have finished data collection and data entry and we are eager to begin uncovering the relationships. 

Culture 'N Coping (CNC) Study Group 

This is an ongoing year-round study group that meets weekly to read and discuss theoretical and empirical research papers on the topic of culture and coping. The group consists of undergraduate and graduate students who share an interest in the topic. New session begins at the beginning of a semester. 


Publications:

Peer-Reviewed Articles 

Takeuchi, D.T., Chun, C.-A., & Gong, F. (2002). Cultural expressions of distress. Health, 6(2), 221-235.  

Chang, D.F., Chun, C.-A., Takeuchi, D.T., & Shen, H. (2000). The SF-36 Health Survey: Tests of data quality, scaling assumptions, and reliability in a community sample of Chinese Americans. Medical Care, 38(5), 542-548. 

Hwang, W.-C., Chun, C.-A., Takeuchi, D.T., Kurasaki, K.S., & Mak, W. (2000). Psychometric validity of the Social Interactions measure for Chinese Americans. Educational and Psychological Measurement. 

Lin, K.-M., Takeuchi, D.T., Chun, C.-A., Zheng, Y.-P., & Kurasaki, K.S. (2000). Stress, support and neurasthenia among Chinese Americans in Los Angeles: An epidemiological study. Formosa Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), 31-46.

Takeuchi, D.T., Chung, R.C.-Y., Lin, K.-M., Shen, H., Kurasaki, K., Chun, C.-A., & Sue, S. (1998). Prevalence of major depressive episode and dysthymia in Chinese Americans. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(10), 1407-1414. 

Sasao, T., & Chun, C.-A. (1994). After Sa-i-gu (April 29) Los Angeles Riots: Correlates of subjective well-being in the Korean American community. Journal of Community Psychology, 22, 136-152. 

Zane, N., Enomoto, K., & Chun, C.-A. (1994). Treatment outcome of Asian Americans. Journal of Community Psychology, 22, 177-191. 

Kim, L.S., & Chun, C.-A. (1993). Ethnic differences in psychiatric diagnoses among Asian American adolescents. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 181, 612-617. 

Takeuchi, D.T., Mokuau, N. & Chun, C.-A. (1992). Mental health services for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 19(3), 237-245. 

Book Chapters 

Kurasaki, K.S., Sue, S., Chun, C.-A., & Gee, K. (2000). Ethnic minority intervention and treatment research. In J. Aponte, R.R. Rivers, & J. Wohl (Eds.), Psychological interventions and cultural diversity, 2nd Edition, (pp.234-249). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 

Chun, C.-A., & Sue, S. (1998). Mental health issues of Asian-American children. In V. Pang (Ed.), Struggling to be heard: The unmet needs of Asian Pacific American children. New York: State University of New York.

Toarmino, D., & Chun, C.-A. (1997). The issues and strategies in counseling for Korean Americans. In C.C. Lee (Ed.), Multicultural issues in counseling: New approaches to diversity, (pp.368-394). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. 

Chun, C.-A., Enomoto, K., & Sue, S. (1996). Health care issues among Asian Americans: Implications of somatization. In P.M. Kato, & T. Mann (Eds.), Handbook of diversity issues in health psychology, (pp. 439-467). New York: Plenum Press. 

Sue, S., Chun, C.-A., & Gee, K. (1995). Ethnic minority intervention and treatment research. In J. Aponte, R.R. Rivers, & J. Wohl (Eds.), Psychological interventions and cultural diversity, (pp.266-282). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 

Manuscripts under Review 

Chun, C.-A., Cronkite, R.C., & Moos, R.H. Stress generation in depressed patients and community controls. 

Chun, C.-A., Murphy, J.W., & Choi, J.M. The violence of assimilation and psychological well-being. 

Chang, D.F., Chun, C.-A., & Takeuchi, D.T. The SF-36 Health Survey: Psychometric and clinical tests of health constructs in a Chinese-American community sample. 

Hwang, W.-C., Chun, C.-A., Takeuchi, D.T., Myers, H.F., & Siddarth, P. Age of first onset major depression in Chinese Americans. 


Other Hobbies and Interests:

Gardening & Cooking 

From time to time I like to pretend that my hobbies are cooking and gardening. But in reality I enjoy eating out and shopping the most. 


Courses Education Research Projects Publications Other Interests

last updated: September 18, 2002

©2002 - This page was developed in electronic form and made available on-line by: 
Chi-Ah Chun
FIT: Faculty Integrating Technology - a program sponsored by CSULB New Media Center and the University Library.

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